Nearly all taxa in Calystegia intergrade geographically into neighboring taxa with the exception of the widespread coastal species, C. soldanella (Linnaeus) R. Brown. It is impossible to draw clearly defined specific limits, and intermediate forms are always found where two taxa approximate geographically[].

Common Name: Japanese Bindweed

General Information

Calystegia pubescens is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a rhizomatous rootstock. It produces stems that can be several metres long, these scramble over the ground, twining into surrounding vegetation for support[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and sometimes as a food.

Known Hazards

This species is said to be purgative[], some caution is advised.

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - northern and eastern China, Japan, Korea.

Habitat

Sunny grassy places and thickets in lowland[]. Waste places, grassy or shrubby hillsides, sometimes a weed of cultivation[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial Climber
Height	2.50 m
Pollinators	Bees, Lepidoptera
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in ordinary garden soil in a sunny position, but plants are apt to become invasive[, ].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked[, , ]. Said to be purgative[].

Young shoots - cooked[, , ].

Medicinal

The flowers are diuretic, they are helpful in cases of diabetes[].

The plant is demulcent, diuretic and tonic[]. It is also used as a tonic to correct broken bones and tendons[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame in a free draining compost and only just cover. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division in early spring whilst dormant[].